Tire Pressure Patagonia MT-02 in LT265/75R16

FuzzyHutch

FuzzyHutch

Test Drive
Location
LEXINGTON OK
So I finally bit the bullet and bought a new set of shoes for the Xterra. I have had it about 3 months and the tires that were on were good shape and same size but did not match. Coopers ATs on front and Advernters (or something like that) on the rear. So I knew when I bought it that I would be getting a new set of MT's in the near future.

So I got the new tires 2 days ago. I told the tire guy to set them at 35 and he said "No can do" they have a 80 psi max rating so the lowest I can set them is 50psi. The stock size tires are P265/75R16 (PRO4X model) and the new tires are Patagonia MT-02 in LT265/75R16. Stock tire size except they are LT's rather than the P tires.

So I noticed on the way home from the tire shop it rode a lot rougher. I was expecting it somewhat because they are a LT truck tire. But I mean it was a lot. So today I get on the interstate for the first time on my way to a family cookout and it was like riding on steel wheels. Plus it was all over the road following the waves and uneven spots in the pavement. It did steer much easier (since the Patagonias are a crown tire I assume) But I was just disgusted. 70% of my driving is highway driving, I just need the MT's for the job sites I go on sometimes.

Anyway, when I go to leave the cookout I air the tires down to 35 PSI which is the factory tire setting. 1000% better. Not quite as smooth as the Passenger tires they come with, and I feel more of the road cracks etc But very useable and fairly quite.

I know the LT tires have the higher pressure to hold a heavier load but my questions is will running them at 30-35 psi cause any damage to the new tires? I can handle them wearing a bit faster, I will sacrifice a little for comfort.

But I know most of the MT tires are LTs. What pressure are you guys running your LT tires at on the Xterras? I know you have to sacrafice ride quality some for the MT tires but it was horrible on the interstate at 70mph with 50psi in them. 35 was much better. I just dont want them to heat up and cause a blow out or something.

Thanks in advance. Hutch in Oklahoma.

345583222_277063488179067_3815273260341560590_n.jpg
 
Prime

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
Grats on the new shoes!

But

Who in the blue ufck told you about those air pressures?!?!

The TPMS is looking for 35PSI. 50 is crazy. 80 is ufcking insane and dangerous. You know what tires run 80 psi? @relentless044 and his wrecker.

There's a sticker in the door jamb that spells out the air pressure.

Whoever told you that is a ufcking moron and never go there again.

I run 35" Cooper STT Pros. Definitely a mud tire. The chalk test put them at 28PSI for even contact patch.
 
Prime

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
I'm legit mad about this. Yes. The max pressure that the tire is designed to hold is 80 at the ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM! But holy ufck! Why would you ever do that?!?! It's like driving on a bomb! Heavy commercial tires are designed to operate at 80 to take multiple ton loads. Thier max pressures are WAY higher.

Tires need to be at the pressure to make an even contact patch across the entire width of the tread. With the stock size E load range tires, that's 35PSI. That's why the computer is looking for that pressure and that's why the sticker in the door jamb calls that pressure out. It maximises safety, braking ability, and tire wear. You can get better mileage if you bump the pressure, but that reduces the contact patch on the road, reduces the rolling resistance, and increases wear in the center of the tread.

This "tire shop" needs to go out of business.
 
Prime

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
What happens with things that get hot? They expand. What does the air in your tires do while you drive? Get hot. If you fill the tire to 80PSI and it gets hot and expands.... You end up with more than 80PSI. And a dangerous blowout.
 
FuzzyHutch

FuzzyHutch

Test Drive
Location
LEXINGTON OK
I kinda thought as much. I run LT tires on my F150 & F350 at higher pressure but they need it. I work them. I just was not sure if a LT tire required the higher pressures or just needed it for the extra weight carrying capacity. The door tag says 35 PSI but specified a P rated tire. Thanks for the back up, its pretty much what I thought but did not want to ruin a new set of tires.
 
FuzzyHutch

FuzzyHutch

Test Drive
Location
LEXINGTON OK
Either way, I was NOT going to run them at that 50psi pressure LOL I was either going to run them at 35ish or get rid of them. 50 was like riding a roller skate down the interstate :) Plus it was road walking everywhere.
 
Newb

Newb

Bought an X
Supporting Member
Location
Charlottesvile, VA
I‘m into my second beer, so I feel like I can weigh in on this thread… Recommend doing the ‘chalk test‘ on your tires to find optimum pressure for them. Like Prime said, it should be around 35 lbs—that’s generally what I run on my Coop STT Pros, but different tires may disperse pressure differently. For a time, I ran higher pressures (40-50) to get better millage, but I got uneven tire wear quickly, so I stopped that.
 
FuzzyHutch

FuzzyHutch

Test Drive
Location
LEXINGTON OK
Newb said:
I‘m into my second beer, so I feel like I can weigh in on this thread… Recommend doing the ‘chalk test‘ on your tires to find optimum pressure for them. Like Prime said, it should be around 35 lbs—that’s generally what I run on my Coop STT Pros, but different tires may disperse pressure differently. For a time, I ran higher pressures (40-50) to get better millage, but I got uneven tire wear quickly, so I stopped that.
Click to expand...
The chalk test is a little different with these tires. They have a crowned tread so the center part of the tire is taller than the outside edge. This is so when you are on pavement you are riding on that center row of tread that is close together and has lead in angles to keep them quite. The outside mud cleats so to speak are not supposed to touch the pavement. So the center of the tire is nearly worn out before they start getting noisy. (remember this is just all stuff I read about them and watched on youtube not actual experience) But they are supposed to be the quietest MT you can get. But it would have to be a modified chalk test of sorts I guess. Keep chalking and lowering the pressure until the wear pattern is out to the mud cleats and call it good? The red lines I drew on the pic below is where the tire is supposed to contact on pavement as opposed to the entire width of the tread.

I just need to find the right pressure to make that happen at the lowest pressure possible. I have heard if you run these crowned tires with too low of pressure you get weird feathering issues on those center tread blocks. Some more reading on them last night it says the mfg says they need to run around 36-38 psi to keep the center raised (when on road driving).

I run a business where I am off and on muddy construction sites where I need the MT tires, but I also put a lot of miles getting back & forth to those jobs sites LOL
 

Attachments

  • Patagonia-mt02-Tread-Void.png
    Patagonia-mt02-Tread-Void.png
    884.1 KB · Views: 0
Newb

Newb

Bought an X
Supporting Member
Location
Charlottesvile, VA
Sounds like 36-38 is probably about right then. I’d probably chalk test them anyway at those pressures just to preview the wear pattern and choose the right pressure for your needs. 2 lbs can make a difference.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top